uw madison law personal statement

Writing Personal Statements for Ph.D. Programs

Introduction

So you’ve decided to apply to a Ph.D. program—how exciting! While the application process can be harrowing at times, being accepted to a graduate school that is a good fit for your interests and skills is a privilege that will be well worth your efforts.

Before we get too wrapped up in the future, though, let’s return to the task at hand: writing a thoughtful personal statement that compellingly represents your academic journey and makes a persuasive case for your admission. This page will orient you to the process of writing a personal statement. The subsequent pages in this section will give you some general guidelines for constructing a convincing statement.

The advice on these pages is designed for students who are applying to Ph.D. programs in the U.S. While some of what we say may be applicable for graduate school applications to master’s degree programs, professional schools (like business school, law school, or medical school), or other kinds of courses of study, keep in mind that some (or many!) aspects of these applications may be different.

Although the title of this page mentions personal statements, the truth is that each department has different names for the essays they require for admission. Some departments require only a personal statement, others will ask for a personal statement and a research statement, still others will request only a statement of purpose (among other permutations!). While the personal statement, statement of research, and statement of purpose may seem like different essays altogether, this is not always the case. For this reason, it is critical that you read through the admissions guidelines for each program you are applying to. Carefully dissecting and understanding the criteria for each part of the application is an important part of applying to graduate school.

If you have any question about the kind of essay a school requires, your first defense should be your advisor (a professor in the field to which you are applying). Together, you can strategize about the requirements for the essay and can determine if you should reach out to the graduate coordinator for clarification.

That being said, this guide will focus primarily on personal statements, which we will define as essays in which applicants give details about their interest in an academic discipline and intellectual journey. Applicants may also be asked to write about challenges they have faced or the kinds of academic questions that most interest them. These statements’ main purpose is to convince admissions committee that the applicant is a good match for graduate work.

As you write your personal statement, be sure to read through these pages:

• Before you begin: useful tips for writing your essay
• Guided brainstorming exercises
• Get more help with your essay
• Frequently Asked Questions

The Writing Process and a Suggested Timeline

Now that we know what we’re talking about, let’s think about how you will actually write this statement. What follows is a brief outline of one process for writing a personal statement. Keep in mind, though, that everyone is different. You may find that you are able to rigidly follow this process and timeline, but this also may not be the case.

Before you start your applications, think carefully about the kinds of writing you have done in the past. What kinds of writing processes have worked for you? What hasn’t? At what point in the day or week can you get the most work done? When are you not usually as productive?

Based on your answers to these kinds of questions, create a schedule for yourself and set deadlines for completing writing goals (like finishing a first draft of your personal statement, for example). Transcribe this schedule onto a physical calendar, your phone’s calendar application, or a boatload of sticky notes—whatever makes the most sense for you. Just make sure that you can see easily see your schedule in the places where you work.

One last note: try to build in extra time. Most students applying to Ph.D. programs are able to quickly write short essays, so you may be tempted to assume that you’ll also be able to write your personal statement without devoting too much time or effort to this process. Although personal statements are short, they’ll require more time than you might expect. This kind of writing is hard word—and can be emotional, especially because you’ll need to share your statement with tough critical reviewers. Sometimes, too, these reviewers may take a while to get back to you with feedback, so make sure that your schedule can accommodate these anomalies.

What follows is a suggested (and we think, realistic!) timeline for crafting a compelling personal statement based on the assumption that applications are due in December. Here, we’ve outlined a rough schedule that covers when you should start a particular element of the writing process, but we haven’t attempted to say how long each element will take. (For example, we say that you should write the first draft of your personal statement in August, but we don’t say how many hours you should devote to completing this draft.) We hope that you will use the schedule below to create your own calendar that includes your own estimates for the amount of time each element of the writing process will take. For example, you may want to schedule four two-hour writing sessions in August that you can use to write your first draft. Once you have a sense of how long it takes to write this kind of draft, you can tailor your calendar to your own writing habits.

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J.d. admissions transfer applicants.

A J.D. student who has completed their first year J.D. curriculum at a member school of the Association of American Law Schools may apply for admission with advanced standing as a J.D. degree candidate.

An LL.M. student who is currently enrolled in an LL.M. program at an ABA-accredited law school may apply to transfer as a J.D. candidate with advanced standing provided the applicant has met all of the following criteria: (1) the applicant is a graduate of a law school in a country outside the United States; (2) the applicant successfully completed J.D. degree coursework while enrolled in the LL.M. program; and (3) the law school that the applicant enrolled at for their LL.M. degree has a grading system for LL.M. students in J.D. courses that is comparable to the grading system for J.D. degree students in the course. LL.M. applicants are not required to take the LSAT.

Transfer students are accepted on a space-available basis only. Selection of applicants is based on evidence that: (1) the candidate can produce above-average work at the University of Washington School of Law and (2) the candidate will contribute to the diversity of the student body.

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Please note that semester-hour credits are converted to quarter-hour credits at a ratio of 1:1.5; e.g., 30 semester-hour credits will convert to 45 quarter-hour credits. For transfer students, UW Law will accept all of the credits earned during the student’s first-year program. Additional credits earned after the first-year are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, but may not exceed one-third of the total credits required for graduation. Transfer students are expected to be in residence for a minimum of five quarters and 85 quarter-hour credits. These students are also eligible for graduation with honors based upon academic performance in the second and third years of law school at UW Law.

Only after receiving an offer of admission will the determination of course credits be assessed.

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On-Campus Interview (OCI) and Resume Collection Program

Admitted transfer applicants are invited to participate in the Fall Recruiting Program, which includes OCI and resume collection.

OCI provides students with an opportunity to interview with attorneys from local and national law firms, government agencies and corporations. These interviews are coordinated by the Center for Career Development in August. The deadline to apply for OCI has not yet been determined. We will update applicants when this information is available.

While we make every effort to render a decision by that date, we are unable to guarantee that all applicants will have a decision rendered before the OCI deadlines. We encourage applicants to submit their materials as soon as possible.

Resume collection is for employers who are unable to visit campus for interviews but wish to review applications from UW Law students. Application deadlines vary from early-July to October but will begin June 1. These employers review applications on their own timeline and interview selected candidates off campus.

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An application is complete and ready for evaluation when the following items are received:

• Application — Applicants must submit the application through the  Law School Admission Council .
• $60 Application Fee — The application fee will be collected when you submit your application through LSAC.
• Personal Statement — The University of Washington School of Law aspires to be the best public law school in the nation and one of the world's most respected centers for interdisciplinary legal studies. Advancing access to justice, facilitating a fair and thriving global marketplace and fostering an environment of inclusivity and equity is integral to who we are. The primary goal of the admissions process is to enroll students who strive to be leaders; demonstrate outstanding academic, professional, and leadership promise; are committed to generous public service and ethical advocacy; and who have background and experiences that will enhance the diversity of the student body, thereby enriching the law school educational environment. As such, applicants are invited to write a personal statement that describes their potential contributions to our vibrant community. Please limit your response to 700 words. Applicants may include the following factors in their personal statement or the optional supplemental statement: perseverance against substantial obstacles; social or economic disadvantage; family or personal adversity; social hardships; disability; prejudice or discrimination; leadership potential; studying or living abroad; foreign language skills; special talents; unique life experiences; or geographic diversity.
• Supplemental Statement — Applicants may supplement their personal statement by providing a statement that addresses their compelling academic or personal need to transfer to UW Law, and the objectives they hope to achieve. Please limit your response to 500 words.
• Resume — Please provide a resume detailing any significant vocational, non-vocational, extracurricular or community activities, volunteer work, honors, awards, any service in the Armed Forces, job descriptions and major areas of responsibility along with dates of employment (mm/yyyy) and the number of hours per week devoted to such activities, publications or other information that you believe the University of Washington School of Law should consider in evaluating your application. Also please include details as to any foreign language proficiencies you possess, including the level of ability with regard to speaking, comprehension, reading, and writing. Your resume may not exceed three (3) typewritten pages.
• Letter of Good Academic Standing  — Please arrange for a Letter of Good Academic Standing to be sent directly to the Office of Admissions & Financial Aid. This letter should be prepared from your law school Registrar or Academic Dean and must (a) provide your class ranking at the end of your first year of law school instruction (if it is not provided on your law school transcript) or indicate that your law school does not rank students, and (b) state that you are in good academic standing and eligible to continue. This letter may be emailed to lawadm@ uw .edu by the Registrar or Academic Dean.
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• Credential Assembly Service Report — We will request this report from LSAC upon receipt of your application. It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that LSAC has received all necessary materials to complete the CAS file. You are advised to confirm that your CAS file is complete; LSAC will not send the law school a CAS Report until then.
• Letter of Recommendation  — One (1) letter of recommendation is required and should be submitted through LSAC's Letter of Recommendation Service. The letter should be from a law professor who knows an applicant's work well and can give a well-substantiated assessment of their academic potential.

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Personal Statement

Main content.

Every law school application requires a personal statement and it is an important part of the application. Since the majority of law schools don’t have interviews, committees rely on this statement as an interview-in-an-essay. It is also a sample of your writing ability. With many applicants with similar qualifications (high GPA and LSAT scores, strong professional or extracurricular experiences, etc), the personal statement is the chance for you to help the admissions committee distinguish you from all the rest. Your personal statement can be what tips you from the waitlist or decline list to the admit list, so make sure to take it seriously!

Steps to Writing a Strong Personal Statement:

• Brainstorm:  The goal of this stage is to find a core idea or theme around which your statement will center. Most schools are interested in learning what unique qualities and experiences you will contribute to their incoming class. Take time to brainstorm about what experiences have shaped you, what skills or traits are unique to you, or what personal accomplishments set you apart. 
• Free Write: Pick three of the topics, themes, or ideas from  your brainstorming session.  This is the stage where you sit down and just start to write. If you have several different themes or topics in mind, start one draft for each. Spend 10-15 minutes on each free writing draft. Don’t edit yourself, try to stay within a word limit, or attempt to edit while you write. The goal is to get as much down on paper as  you can.
• Review: Review your “free write” drafts. Does one stand out or particularly resonate with you? If none of the topics feel right, go back, pick three more ideas from your brainstorming session, and repeat the free write exercise until you find something that you want to move to the next stage with;
• Draft:  Start drafting your personal statement. Some people find drafting an outline first assists them in thinking through the structure and flow of the statement, while other prefer to just start writing and organize as they go.
• Edit:  Have at least one objective person, ideally someone familiar with the law school application process, review your personal statement. Be prepared for feedback. A good reviewer will send your personal statement back to you with comments and suggestions. If you get your statement back with a simple “looks great!”, find a new reviewer! Remember that many law school applicants go through several rounds of revision before submitting their application! Legal Pathways offers personal statement review, but please make sure to allow enough time to go through the editing process -- if you email asking for feedback by the next day, we won’t be able to help! 
• Finalize: Once you are done making any substantive edits, proofread carefully. Additionally, make sure you have followed the directions provided (which may vary from school to school) about word count or page limit and any formatting requirements. Ensure you have used the right law school name for each statement.  

Personal Statement Tips:

• “Show, Don’t Tell” :  Show, don’t tell: conclusions should be self-evident. Well written statements use stories that illustrate your good qualities. You should not have to explicitly state them.
• Be the Main Character and Grow :  Tell a story where you are the main character and you changed, grew, or shifted your perspective.
• Write a concise narrative with one or two points . Personal statements are relatively short and you can’t fit it all in -- tell one story very well not ten stories poorly!  over quantity.
• Keep the focus on yourself , not your family members, friends, or other people in your life (even if they are very interesting or important to you!)
• Be authentic and honest . This is your chance for the law school admissions committee to get to know you. Use it! 

Avoid Common Pitfalls:

• Don’t rush the process . Many students need to write 3-6 drafts to craft a strong, concise and memorable personal statement.
• Don’t skip the review process . Have at least one person familiar with the law school application process review your personal statement and provide feedback. At the University of Washington Tacoma, both the Writing Center and Legal Pathways provide this service! 
• Don’t use your personal statement to repeat what is already in your resume . You only get to submit a handful of things in your law school application, so make each one count and don’t duplicate information! If they will read about it somewhere else, don’t repeat it.
• Don’t try to write like a legal scholar or explain the law . No Latin phrases. No teaching. This is an essay about you (and don’t worry, you will have lots of opportunities to use that Latin once you are in law school!)
• Personal Statement Do’s and Don’ts
• Writing Personal Statements for Law School
• Personal Statement Packet (Pre-Law Guru)
• Sample Personal Statements (The University of Chicago Law School)
• Personal Statement Brainstorming Exercises (University of Wisconsin-Madison)
• Nine Important Personal Statement Tips for Law School Applicants (New England Law)
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Indigenous Food Sovereignty Outreach Specialist

• Madison, Wisconsin
• EXTENSION/COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE DIRECTO
• Outreach and Community Engagement
• Partially Remote
• Staff-Full Time
• Staff-Part Time
• Opening at: Aug 7 2024 at 10:20 CDT
• Closing at: Sep 22 2024 at 23:55 CDT

Job Summary:

Based at the Extension Community Food Systems Program, the Indigenous Food Sovereignty Outreach Specialist will lead the strategic development of direct education and programming, foster and maintain key external partnerships, and work with Extension colleagues to identify and adapt existing agricultural and food systems development resources for Tribal audiences. With initial funding from the Wisconsin Rural Partnership Initiative and a USDA grant, this position will also involve project-specific outreach in support of two projects: Connecting Cultural Values and Indigenous Research Towards Food System Resilience Project and Wisconsin's Tribal Sugaring Network (Maple Syrup Program). Priority roles for this position include: 1. Building trusting relationships with Tribal governments and organizations that honor sovereignty and tribal communication and research protocols; 2. Developing and maintaining partnerships with Tribal colleges, agencies, and organizations leading food systems development and knowledge mobilization in Tribal communities, e.g., Intertribal Ag Council, WI Tribal Conservation Advisory Council, Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission, Great Lakes Indigenous Law Center, and the Great Lakes Midwest Regional Food Business Center; 3. Facilitating intertribal information exchange and collaboration through field days, summits, and/or joint projects and programs that are representative of Tribal communities' holistic approach to food sovereignty; 4. Maintaining awareness of emerging Indigenous food sovereignty projects and work through research, communication, and participation at local and national gatherings and conferences; and 5. Providing project-specific coordination and outreach to Tribal communities and partners for the Connecting Cultural Values & Indigenous Research Towards Food System Resilience Project and to Wisconsin's Tribal Sugaring Network. Division of Extension headquarters are located within Madison, WI but the position can be located elsewhere in Wisconsin depending on programmatic needs, successful candidate's preferences, and availability of suitable space. The Division of Extension has a deep and profound commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity, believing that these values are foundational elements to eliminate disparities and expanding access for all. As Extension, we acknowledge the need for strategic and coordinated actions that help us form a more equitable, anti-racist, non-biased, and inclusive organization. ( https://blogs.extension.wisc.edu/oaic/call-to-action/ ) As such, all Extension employees are expected to foster and promote the values of diversity and inclusion.

Responsibilities:

• 20% Identifies, promotes, and maintains external partnerships to support the outreach program
• 25% Schedules and secures resources and communicates logistics in support of an outreach program
• 10% Delivers outreach program content and materials to community members
• 15% Researches, develops, and facilitates outreach program content and materials
• 10% Develops and evaluates curriculum and programs and provides recommendations for improvement
• 20% Works collaboratively across the project teams and supports project management, logistics, communication, coordination, evaluation, and reporting

Institutional Statement on Diversity:

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals. The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world. For more information on diversity and inclusion on campus, please visit: Diversity and Inclusion

Required Bachelor's Degree

Qualifications:

Required: - Education, training and/or experience related to Indigenous agriculture or food systems. - Demonstrated experience developing or supporting outreach programs that may include assessing audience needs, implementing in person and online educational trainings or outreach events, and evaluating impact. - Demonstrated ability to set priorities, meet objectives, and accomplish goals with limited direct supervision. - Strong interpersonal relationship and problem-solving skills in a team setting. - Understanding of and experience working with Native Nations communities. Preferred: - Three or more years of relevant professional experience. - Familiarity with Indigenous food systems, sustainable agriculture, farming, forestry, and/or wild harvest. - Knowledge of, connections with, or deep personal or professional experience with Tribal communities or organizations in the Midwest or Great Lakes region. - In depth knowledge of tribal enrollment, tribal government, and the complexities associated with indigenous identity.

Full or Part Time: 80% - 100% This position may require some work to be performed in-person, onsite, at a designated campus work location. Some work may be performed remotely, at an offsite, non-campus work location.

Appointment Type, Duration:

Terminal, 24 month appointment. This position has the possibility to be extended or converted to an ongoing appointment based on need and/or funding

Minimum $58,000 ANNUAL (12 months) Depending on Qualifications Employees in this position can expect to receive benefits such as generous vacation, holidays, and paid time off; competitive insurances and savings accounts; retirement benefits. Benefits information can be found at ( https://hr.wisc.edu/benefits/ ).

Additional Information:

This is a 2-year position but may be extended if additional funding is available. Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without need of employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of appointment.

How to Apply:

We are eager to learn more about how your experience and passion may align with this position. To begin the application process, click the "apply now" button. You will be prompted to upload the following documents: - Resume - Letter of Qualifications (cover letter) Please submit a cover letter referring to your related work experience and a resume detailing your educational and professional background. Your cover letter should communicate your interest in the position and how your skillset aligns with the role. The application reviewers will be relying on written application materials to determine who may advance to preliminary interviews. The Division of Extension invites applications from those with expertise, cultural knowledge, and passion for working with Native American communities.

Lindsey Farnsworth [email protected] 608-890-2433 Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information.

Official Title:

Outreach Specialist(OE009)

Department(s):

A47-EXTENSION/ANRCD/COMM/CFS/COMM FOOD S

Employment Class:

Academic Staff-Terminal

Job Number:

The university of wisconsin-madison is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer..

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MSW Application

The UW School of Social Work attracts well-qualified students with diverse backgrounds who are committed to racial justice and anti-oppressive practice, and have significant experience in diverse and marginalized communities. Admission to the Master of Social Work Program is selective and based on a holistic review of an applicant’s academic preparation, graduate study readiness, relevant experience in the field, alignment with our  program’s mission , and the potential to contribute to the profession. Carefully review our  Essential Skills, Values and Standards of Professional Conduct  before applying.

Before You Begin

• Explore our three MSW pathways
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September 2024:  All MSW applications open for the 2025-2026 academic year.

January 15th, 2025 by 11:59pm PST:  Applications for the Day and Advanced Standing Programs are due. This is also the Extended Degree Program  priority  deadline. The Extended Degree Program application will remain open on a  space-available basis  until  February 15th, 2025 by 11:59pm PST.

Early March:  Applicants will be notified of an admission decision by email. Please monitor your spam and other inbox folders if you feel you have missed any communication from us.

July 2025:  MSW Advanced Standing Programs (part-time and full-time) begin. Please note that both the full-time and part-time Advanced Standing Programs begin in mid-summer ( Summer Session B ) with a required full-time summer bridge program . 

September 2025:  MSW Extended Degree & Day Programs begin. 

Please review the eligibility requirements. Admission is competitive, and applicants are evaluated holistically. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is  not  required for the MSW program.

MSW Day Program and MSW Extended Degree Program

Admission is competitive and applications are evaluated holistically. Applicants to the MSW Day Program or MSW Extended Degree Program must meet the minimum requirements  outlined by the UW Graduate School.

Social Work Experience:  All MSW candidates are recommended to have at least 2000 hours of  relevant social service experience  by the time of application; however, this is not a requirement.

Degree:  We do not require any specific major or baccalaureate degree to apply for either program. Applicants must have, at a minimum, a four-year baccalaureate degree. The degree must be posted before the start of the MSW Program. However, the School of Social Work may consider an exceptional applicant without a four-year bachelor’s degree. An admission petition to the Graduate School must be submitted by the School of Social Work before an offer is made for any applicants that do not meet the degree minimum and is subject to denial. More information on minimum degree requirements  here .

GPA:  Applicants must meet the 3.0 grade point average (on a 4 point scale) for credits earned at a regionally accredited institution awarding the bachelor’s, master’s, graduate doctoral degree, or professional doctoral degree OR at least a 3.0 for the last 90 quarter credits/60 semester credits. However, the School of Social Work may consider an exceptional applicant with a GPA below a 3.0 – applicants with less than a 3.0 GPA are encouraged to provide additional information related to the context of their GPA in the Application Questions section of the application. An admission petition to the Graduate School must be submitted by the School of Social Work before an offer is made for any applicants that do not meet the GPA minimum and is subject to denial. Please see  this document  for suggested strategies to help strengthen your candidacy for admission.

English Proficiency:  Non-native English speakers must demonstrate English language proficiency. More information on English proficiency requirements can be found  here . We require applicants to meet/surpass the RECOMMENDED test scores.

Criminal Background Check:  Applicants who are offered admission to the School of Social Work will receive instructions to complete the criminal background check and Request for Criminal History Information Form with the admission notice. Prospective applicants with questions or concerns about this requirement should review our information on  Criminal History Information and Admissions/Continuance .

MSW Advanced Standing (Part-time and Full-time)

Admission is competitive and applicants are evaluated holistically. Applicants to the Advanced Standing Programs must meet the  minimum requirements  outlined by the UW Graduate School, in addition to a bachelor’s degree in social work/social welfare.  If you are a current BASW Senior at UW Seattle with a 3.5 GPA at the end of junior year you are eligible for a streamlined application process – please  click here  for specific instructions. 

Social Work Degree:  All Advanced Standing applicants must have graduated from a U.S. baccalaureate program in social work or social welfare accredited by the  CSWE  or a Canadian bachelor’s level social work program accredited by CASSW ( CASWE ). 

Students who have a BSW/BASW degree from a social work program outside of the U.S. may have their  degree evaluated by the International Social Work Degree Recognition and Evaluation Service , and may apply for Advanced Standing if the degree is determined to be consistent with CSWE requirements. 

Advanced Standing applicants who graduated more than five years ago should demonstrate continued professional growth through social work experience. (Professional training, leadership, and advancement in the social work field are also considered).

Social Work Experience:  All MSW candidates are recommended to have at least 2000 hours of  relevant social service experience  by the time of application; however, this is not a requirement. 

GPA:  Applicants must meet the 3.0 grade point average (on a 4 point scale) for credits earned at a regionally accredited institution awarding the bachelor’s, master’s, graduate doctoral degree, or professional doctoral degree OR at least a 3.0 for the last 90 quarter credits/60 semester credits. However, the School of Social Work may consider an exceptional applicant with a GPA below a 3.0 – applicants with less than a 3.0 GPA are encouraged to provide additional information related to the context of their GPA in the Application Questions section of the application. An admission petition to the Graduate School must be submitted by the School of Social Work before an offer is made for any applicants that do not meet the GPA minimum and is subject to denial. Please see  this document  for suggested strategies to help strengthen your candidacy for admission.

English Proficiency:  Non-native English speakers must demonstrate English language proficiency More information on English proficiency requirements can be found  here . We require applicants to meet/surpass the RECOMMENDED test scores.

UW Seattle BASW Seniors

If you are a current BASW Senior at UW Seattle with a 3.5 GPA at the end of junior year you are eligible for a streamlined application process.

View specific instructions.

Undocumented Applicants

The School of Social Work accepts applications from prospective students regardless of citizenship status – we encourage applicants who identify as undocumented, DACA eligible, or HB 1079 eligible to connect with the various resources on campus that may provide additional information about UW resources, residency, and funding opportunities.

Our hope is that you’ll find safe and welcoming spaces at the School of Social Work and the UW. The Graduate Student Equity & Excellence (GSEE) has detailed instructions for students on how best to complete the demographics portion of the graduate school application. Please review these materials prior to beginning your application.

We highly encourage students to review the Northwest Immigrants Rights Project DACA Advisory that outlines recommendations for community members who have applied for DACA or who are interested in applying.

Need additional support in applying? Feel free to reach out to our office , GSEE, or Leadership Without Borders .

International Applicants

Most international applicants are only eligible for a visa if enrolled full-time (Day or Full-Time Advanced Standing program). International students requiring an F-1 student visa to attend the University of Washington should not list the Extended Degree Program (EDP) or Part-Time Advanced Standing Program among application choices for consideration. Visit the UW Graduate School’s International Student page, which includes important details about visas, U.S. immigration laws, and the financial ability requirement. International applicants must provide proof of financial ability, demonstrate English proficiency, and will need a student visa to attend. Please note that international students are not eligible for the CWTAP traineeship and are only eligible for the WDI traineeship if they have guaranteed work authorization after their education visa has expired.

Non-Native English Speakers

Non-native English speakers can demonstrate English language proficiency in several ways: a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree from a U.S. institution, a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree from an institution located in a country where English is the official language, official documentation from the degree-granting institution verifying that all instruction is in English, OR, an Official English Language Test Score (sent electronically to the University of Washington via testing center). The UW School of Social Work requires scores to meet/surpass the “recommended” scores . We will accept the TOEFLI or TOEFLB scores of 92 or higher, Duolingo scores of 125 or higher, and IELTS scores of 7.0 or higher. Test scores should be sent at least two weeks before the application deadline to 5 ensure they are processed in time. Due to the rigor and pace of our programs, students with scores below the “recommended” scores will not be admitted and enrolling in an Academic English Proficiency (AEP) class is not permitted. More information on English proficiency requirements can be found here .

MSW Transfer Applicants

Students are encouraged to only begin an MSW program they intend to complete. We strongly discourage starting a program with the intention of transferring later on.

Applicants transferring from another CSWE-accredited MSW program are considered for admission into the MSW Day and Extended Degree Programs on a space-available basis only after required pre-application advising – pre-application advising must be completed before January 3rd . Transfer students who do not complete this advising process will have their applications withdrawn.  

Pre-application advising is intended to proactively ensure students do not encounter course sequencing issues. To schedule pre-application advising, make an appointment with an admissions advisor here . After the initial pre-application advising, an official from your current/former MSW program must complete a Certification of Good Standing form and submit to our office BEFORE January 3rd, 2025. Once all completed forms have been received, they’ll be reviewed to determine if you meet our requirements to transfer. If cleared to apply, you’ll apply like a typical applicant.

Transfer students must meet all general eligibility requirements, be in good standing at their current/previous MSW program, and have completed their full generalist curriculum and practicum. 

Due to the part-time format, the Extended Degree Program and UW-Tacoma’s MSW Program may be more feasible options for transfer applicants.

The Office of Admissions may request updated transcripts after an offer of admission. Failure to successfully complete the generalist curriculum prior to the start of the program can result in a withdrawal of admission or enrollment.

Credits will be evaluated by the MSW Program Office after receiving an offer of admission. Transfer students are only eligible to be waived out of a maximum of 39 quarter credit hours. However, this is subject to review by the MSW Program Director to ensure course equivalency. UW’s generalist curriculum often differs from other MSW programs, therefore, transfer students almost always need to take some generalist courses which can extend the typical graduation timeline. We cannot guarantee credits will fully transfer.

Per UW policy, students must complete all degree requirements within six years. If previously completed MSW coursework was done four years ago or more, they will be reviewed by the Director of Student Services. If admitted, transfer students will choose an area of specialization and a practicum site. Some specializations and practicum sites have limited capacity and are therefore only available to transfer students on a space-available basis.

Students wishing to transfer credits from a different type of graduate program from which they did not earn a degree are limited to 6 transfer credits per UW Graduate School policy. Students who have taken graduate-level research courses may be waived out of the required MSW research courses. Under both circumstances, eligibility is assessed only after the student has been admitted, paid the enrollment deposit, and provided relevant syllabi.

The UW does not award general credit for work or life experience

Re-Applicants

We welcome you to reapply. Reapplying is never looked at negatively, and does not impact admission chances. As of May 2023, reusing materials is no longer possible due to a change in application platforms.

Learn more about reapplying

Graduate Non-Matriculated (GNM) and Non-Matriculated (NM) Applicants

For full details about the current GNM registration process, visit this Canvas page . Per Graduate School policy, prospective GNM students must meet the following minimum requirements:

• Hold a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university in the U.S. or its equivalent from a foreign institution.
• Have earned at least a 3.0 grade-point-average (on a 4 point scale) for the last 90 graded quarter credits or 60 graded semester credits.

Before filling out the application and paying the fee, please contact the School of Social Work Student Services at [email protected] to inquire about classes available to GNM and NM students during the quarter you are hoping to enroll. Initial contact must be made more than two weeks prior to the quarter beginning. The adviser will go over the next steps with you, at this time. We only want you to pay the fee if we are able to allow you into a course in which you’d like to enroll.

For GNM status, you will also have to complete these additional steps.

• Visit the Graduate School’s online application to complete the application. There is a $75 non-refundable or transferable fee for GNM applications.
• As part of the online application, you will upload unofficial transcripts. 
• Additionally, you will also be required to upload a resume.
• Alert the Student Services Department that your application has been submitted and is ready for review. Please email [email protected] . The application portal does close for a period of time during the spring and summer – in order to submit your application you will need to communicate with Student Services to coordinate.

What other things should I know in order to take class(es)?

• UW Time Schedule for course and schedule information
• Tuition information
• Academic Calendar
• If you are a UW or State employee, planning to use tuition exemption, please visit the Registrar’s webpage . MSW Extended Degree Program students cannot use tuition exemption, since the EDP program is a fee-based program
• UW Graduate School Policies for GNM .

The Admissions Committee strives to give all applications the most prompt and holistic consideration possible. To make this process smooth and efficient, please consider the following:

• Ensure your email address is accurate – use one personal email address for all of your application materials (application, funding consideration, scholarships, etc). You may want to add our email to your contact list to avoid these messages going to spam folders. Please check your email regularly as this is the main form of communication we use. Be cautious of using a school-issued email address that may expire.
• Submit all completed application materials early. Applications will not be processed until all materials are received (including references); in the event that your application materials are incomplete we will attempt to contact you by email.
• Select references early and ask references to respond promptly ; references must be completed via a unique link sent via email. Emailed letters or physical materials are not accepted.
• Notify the School of Social Work via email of any changes (e.g. address, name change) or decision to withdraw from consideration.
• Review all application materials for completeness and accuracy before submitting them . Keep copies of your essay and other materials submitted.

Download the application checklist here !

Applicants are expected to create and submit accurate and original application materials by the deadlines without the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) content generators, such as ChatGPT. Issues of dishonesty may result in denial of admission, rescinding an offer of admission, and/or revoking funding/scholarship.

Application Fee

An $90.00 application fee is required and must be paid by credit card through the online application system. Information about an application fee waiver through the Graduate School is available  here . Be sure to submit an application fee waiver at least one week prior to the application deadline to allow adequate time for processing.

If you are not eligible for the Graduate School Fee Waiver, you may be eligible for a departmental fee waiver.  More details here .

Academic History (Transcripts)

You must submit  un official transcripts from every accredited college or university where you earned academic credit. Please review the Eligibility Criteria and Special Applicant Groups (above) regarding minimum degree and GPA requirements.

Please make sure your first and last names, degree conferred date, and the name of the institution are clearly included on all transcripts.

If you are currently enrolled in a college/university and have not yet graduated, please upload a transcript including the most recently completed quarter/semester. A final transcript showing confirmation of a bachelor’s degree or equivalent will be due before the start of the program, if admitted. 

If you transferred credits from a previous institution and they are listed in detail on your degree-granting transcript with a GPA (and full course names), you do not need to list and upload them separately. If they are not listed in detail, or if there is no GPA, please list and upload the additional schools and transcripts. 

Please submit PDF files only via the Graduate School application; we will not accept incomplete, blurry, or illegible documents or pictures from your phone. We will not accept e-mailed, faxed, mailed transcripts nor transcripts sent through electronic transmission services. 

All current or former students of the University of Washington, including UW Tacoma/UW Bothell, are still required to upload unofficial transcripts. 

If you attended a school that does not use a traditional grade point system, please upload all narrative transcripts as one PDF package.

Transcript evaluations such as those from WES must be accompanied by the original transcript(s).

Specializations

• Day  students will officially select their area of specialization during Winter Quarter. However, to help with course planning, we ask you to rank the specialization options.
• EDP and Part-Time Advanced Standing  applicants do not need to select a specialization since we offer only one specialization in our part-time programs: Clinical Social Work. 
• Full-Time Advanced Standing  applicants are admitted directly to a specialization. Applicants will note their ranking of the offered specializations in the application in the “Interest Area” section. Please  review specializations choices before finalizing these selections and submitting the application. Advanced Standing applicants will also be asked to write a short rationale for their top choice selection in the essay portion of the application. Specializations are space-restricted and once offers are made, changes are not guaranteed and limited. Please contact us if you need additional information to select your specialization area.

Applicants interested in the Child Welfare Training and Advancement Program ( CWTAP ) or Behavioral Health Workforce Development Initiative (WDI) should note that in order to be considered, they must follow a Clinical Social Work specialization. 

Need help choosing a specialization?  Watch this webinar !

Alternate Program Selection

Applicants have the opportunity to list second and third choice program options in the event they are not admitted to their first choice. Only list alternate options if you have fully reviewed the  MSW program information , fully understand the distinct program options and  costs , and are willing to pursue an MSW degree in this program. (Note: the  specializations offered in the full time programs are different than those offered in the Extended Degree Program and Part-Time Advanced Standing Program.)

Social Work and Human Service Experience

Applicants will be prompted to enter all relevant experience in the application, as well as the total hours of experience. 

For additional guidance on identifying relevant experience we have developed  a handout  with information on social work and human services.

Optional Information

GPA:  We highly encourage applicants with a GPA below 3.0 to provide additional information for our Admissions Committee. Please see  this document  for suggested strategies to help strengthen your candidacy for admission.

Short Answer Critical Reflection Questions

We are seeking students who want to join us as we wrestle with complex social problems, and who understand that we must work together to end white supremacy and  oppression  in all its forms. As such, You are required to critically reflect and respond to two short answer questions. 

How does  oppression impact the communities you intend to serve? Please highlight examples of structural, institutional, or systemic-level oppression that are of particular concern to you. (300 words or less)

How have you developed self-awareness around racism or other areas of  oppression ? Identify areas where you’d like to grow in your anti-oppressive approach. (300 words or less)

Personal Statement

The required personal statement portion is an important component of your application package. 

Prompt:  The MSW Program at the University of Washington School of Social Work is grounded in our commitment to racial, economic, gender, and social justice informed by and for those at the social margins of our local, national, and global communities.  Reflecting on the UWSSW’s  MSW Program Statement of Purpose , in 2 – 3 pages write a personal statement about why you have decided to pursue an MSW at UW.  Include the following:

How has your unique background shaped your perspective and prepared you to work towards social justice? Highlight any skills, professional work, and/or lived experiences you see contributing to the diversity of the school’s learning community and the field of social work.

How do your professional goals align with the Program’s Statement of Purpose?

Part 2: Advanced Standing Specialization Rationale   (ONLY applies to Advanced Standing applicants) : Please restate your first-choice  specialization  and provide reasoning for your selection. How might specializing in this area help you to achieve your social work career goals? If you identified a second choice option, please briefly describe why you might also consider specializing in this area. This section should be less than 1 page.​

Format:  Statements should be double-spaced with 1-inch margins, using 12-point font (either Times New Roman or Calibri). Citations are not required or expected unless you have cited specific evidence in your writing. Feel free to tell your “story” in a reflective, creative, and expressive style. If you are including Part 2, please use the header: “Advanced Standing Specialization Rationale”. Please submit all parts as one PDF document and upload to the “Personal Statement” section in the online application.

Provide a resume (no more than 2 pages; in PDF format only) that includes:

Educational background

Paid work experience: dates, employer name and address, job title, brief overview of job responsibilities

Unpaid, relevant social work experience including practicums/internships

Other paid/unpaid experience involving community work, leadership/capacity building, and/or advocacy/activism

Awards, honors, and special achievements you have earned (academic, work, volunteer)

Languages spoken and written and level of fluency, if bilingual (including ASL)

Research experiences: any research you have conducted or been a part of

International experiences (length of time, work/volunteer experience)

Please address gaps in your work history as appropriate and/or explain these in your Personal Statement.

Please do  not  include a photo of yourself, your home address, or phone number.

Recommendations

Three (3) unique recommendation forms must be submitted. You must designate these references in the online Graduate School application portal. References should support your social work/human service background and/or academic preparedness, and potential for contributing to the learning community and field of social work.

It is recommended that all applicants designate at least one reference that is an academic reference and at least one reference that is a professional reference. You may choose to send your references this  MSW Recommender Guide  prior to designating them in the application. 

You do not need to wait for your recommendations to be submitted in order to submit your application.

It is your responsibility to ensure all three recommendations are submitted by the application deadline. 

Upon designating a reference, an email will be sent to each reference requesting they complete a brief online recommendation form; there will also be space for them to upload a supporting document. You can check that they’ve completed the recommendation by logging in to the application portal.

We will not accept e-mails, faxes, or mailed letters as substitutes for the recommendation forms.

Family members, partners, clients and personal friends are not appropriate references.

Advanced Standing (Part-time and Full-time) Applicants:  Must include one social work faculty member from your BASW/BSW program among the required references.

Re-Applicants:  As of May 2023, reusing materials (such as recommendations) is no longer possible due to a change in application platforms.

Social Work Policy Acknowledgement

Prior to submitting your application, you’ll need to review and agree to the following School of Social Work Admissions Policies in the online application:

• I acknowledge that failure to submit complete and accurate information by the deadline, including all required documents, may result in denial of admission.
• Applicants are expected to create and submit original application materials without the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) content generators, such as ChatGPT. Except for minor editorial assistance, I confirm I wrote all my own application materials and understand the importance of academic and professional honesty and integrity. Issues of dishonesty may result in denial of admission, rescinding an offer of admission, and/or revoking funding/scholarship.
• I acknowledge that I have read, understand, and, if admitted, will be held accountable to the  UW Student Conduct Code , the  School of Social Work’s Essential Skills, Values, and Standards for Professional Conduct  and the  NASW Code of Ethics .
• I understand the School of Social Work reserves the right, on the basis of an educational judgment, to recommend to the Graduate School that an applicant be denied admission or to recommend dismissal to the Graduate School of an admitted student whose academic record or performance in field instruction does not meet minimal expectations, or whose performance is not consistent with the accepted standards for professional behavior.
• I assert that I am prepared to fulfill the expectations of the Master of Social Work program. I will work with advisers and/or Disability Resources for Students to arrange reasonable accommodations as needed.

Submitting Your Application

Applications and fee payment must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. PST on the deadline date; the portal will close exactly at midnight.  Fee waiver requests  should be submitted at least one week prior to the deadline to ensure they are processed in time. 

Applications will not be considered complete until the application fee has been paid. 

You can login into the application portal to check your admission status, and/or the status of your recommendations.

After submission, applicants can still submit/update unofficial transcripts and update recommenders.

Congratulations on completing your application, and good luck!

Questions regarding the application portal/platform:  [email protected]  

To request disability accommodation in the admission and application process, contact the  Disability Services Office  at 206.543.6450 (Voice), 206.543.6452 (TTY), 206.685.7264 (FAX), or  [email protected] .

Funding Consideration (Optional)

This form is separate from the application and does not impact admissions decisions. We encourage applicants who would like to be considered for School of Social Work fellowships/scholarships to submit this form.  The deadline for submission is the same as the general admission deadlines.  Please be aware that this is the  only  opportunity for  departmental  funding consideration for incoming students. 

In order to be considered,  the applicant must also file a  FAFSA  (or  WASFA , if eligible)  for the current year, however, the departmental funding consideration form is  not  a replacement for the general need-based financial aid application (FAFSA). UW’s priority FAFSA/WAFSA deadline is  January 15th  and we strongly recommend submitting by that date to ensure full consideration for School of Social Work funding. Please note that international students are exempt from completing the FAFSA/WASFA.

Please explore the School’s  website  for additional options for funding your education (e.g. graduate assistantships, traineeships, scholarships for continuing students, resources for undocumented students)

The Funding Consideration Form will appear in your online application upon submitting and paying the app fee. It is titled “Post-Application Questions”.

• Be sure to select the correct program, quarter and year. Selecting the wrong program, quarter, or year may require you to begin a new application, repay the application fee, and submit requests for recommendations again.
• Please only submit one application. If you are interested in applying to multiple programs, choose only your top choice. Applicants have the opportunity to list second and third choice program options in the application.
• Current BASW UW-Seattle Seniors: Please click here to follow specific instructions for the streamlined process.

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Trump calls for universal coverage of IVF treatment with no specifics on how his plan would work

Former President Donald Trump says that, if he wins a second term, he wants to make IVF treatment free for families. IVF treatments are notoriously expensive and can cost tens of thousands of dollars for a single round.

Donald Trump rails against the Biden administration over inflation in the most dramatic terms, accusing Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden of having presided over “an economic reign of terror” and “committing one financial atrocity after another.”

Former President Donald Trump says that, if he wins a second term, he wants to make IVF treatment free for families. However, the former president did not detail how he would fund it or how it would work, as he took the stage at a campaign event in Wisconsin.

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign event at Alro Steel, Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024, in Potterville, Mich. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump arrives to speak at a campaign event at Alro Steel, Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024, in Potterville, Mich. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign event at Alro Steel, Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024, in Potterville, Mich. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

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POTTERVILLE, Mich. (AP) — Former President Donald Trump says that, if he wins a second term, he wants to make IVF treatment free for women, but did not detail how he would fund his plan or precisely how it would work.

“I’m announcing today in a major statement that under the Trump administration, your government will pay for — or your insurance company will be mandated to pay for — all costs associated with IVF treatment,” he said at an event in Michigan. “Because we want more babies, to put it nicely.”

IVF treatments are notoriously expensive, and can cost tens of thousands of dollars for a single round. Many women require multiple rounds and there is no guarantee of success.

The announcement comes as Trump has been under intense criticism from Democrats for his role in appointing the Supreme Court justices who overturned Roe v. Wade, ending the constitutional right to an abortion in the country. The decision has led to a wave of restrictions across Republican-led states, including proposals that have threatened access to IVF by trying to define life as beginning at conception. IVF relies on the creation of multiple embryos, some of which may be destroyed.

Abortion is expected to be a major motivator for Democrats and women this November, and was a dominant theme of the party’s national convention last week, including Vice President Kamala Harris’ speech as she accepted her party’s nomination.

In response, Trump has been trying to present himself as more moderate on the issue, going as far as to declare himself “very strong on women’s reproductive rights.”

In an interview with NBC ahead of the event , Trump also suggested that he would vote in favor of repealing Florida’s six-week abortion ban, which limits the procedure before many women even know they are pregnant.

Trump, in the interview, did not explicitly say how he plans to vote on the ballot measure this fall. But he repeated his past criticism that the measure, signed into law by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis last year, is too restrictive.

“I think the six weeks is too short. It has to be more time,” he said. ”I am going to be voting that we need more than six weeks.”

Trump had previously called DeSantis’ decision to sign the bill a “terrible mistake.”

Trump campaign spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said in a statement after the rally Thursday that Trump “has not yet said how he will vote on the ballot initiative in Florida” known as Amendment 4 and that he “simply reiterated that he believes six weeks is too short.”

His comments nonetheless drew immediate reaction from those who oppose abortion rights, including Marjorie Dannenfelser, the president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, who said she had spoken with Trump after his speech.

“He has not committed to how he will vote on Amendment 4. President Trump has consistently opposed abortions after five months of pregnancy. Amendment 4 would allow abortion past this point. Voting for Amendment 4 completely undermines his position,” she said, adding that, “anyone who believes in drawing a different line” still “must vote against Amendment 4, unless they don’t want a line at all.”

In his speech, Trump also said that, if he wins, families will be able to deduct expenses for caring for newborns from their taxes.

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“We’re pro-family,” he said.

Trump has held multiple conflicting positions on abortion over the years. After briefly considering backing a potential 15-week ban on the procedure nationwide, he announced in April that regulating abortion should be left to the states.

In the months since, he has repeatedly taken credit for his role in overturning Roe and called it “a beautiful thing to watch” as states set their own restrictions.

Trump, however, has also said he does not support a national abortion ban, and over the weekend, his running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, said he would veto such legislation if it landed on his desk.

“Donald Trump’s view is that we want the individual states and their individual cultures and their unique political sensibilities to make these decisions because we don’t want to have a nonstop federal conflict over this issue,” Vance said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

Trump first came out in favor of IVF in February after the Alabama state Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos can be considered children under state law, briefly pausing treatment and sparking national backlash.

Trump has since claimed the Republican party is a “leader” on the issue, even as at least 23 bills aiming to establish fetal personhood have been introduced in 13 states so far this legislative session, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a research group that supports abortion rights. That kind of legislation, which asserts that life begins at conception, could imperil fertility treatments that involve the storage, transportation and destruction of embryos.

Senate Republicans in June blocked legislation that would have made it a right nationwide for women to access IVF and other reproductive technology, and also would have made treatments more accessible by requiring employer-sponsored insurance plans and other public insurance plans to cover fertility treatments.

IVF can costs tens of thousands of dollars for medical appointments, medication and surgery, and is not covered by many health insurance plans.

Trump has in general been opposed to various kinds of federal mandates, and originally ran against the Affordable Care Act — also known as Obamacare — which included popular provisions like protections for people with preexisting health conditions.

In a statement, Harris’ campaign said Trump shouldn’t be believed.

“Trump lies as much if not more than he breathes, but voters aren’t stupid,” said Harris-Walz 2024 spokesperson Sarafina Chitika. “Because Trump overturned Roe v. Wade, IVF is already under attack and women’s freedoms have been ripped away in states across the country. There is only one candidate in this race who trusts women and will protect our freedom to make our own health care decisions: Vice President Kamala Harris.”

Jessica Mackler, the president of EMILYs List, which works to elect women who support abortion rights, called Trump’s proposal “disingenuous and unserious.”

“He knows how unpopular the GOP’s attacks on fertility treatments are, and his comments are a desperate ploy to distract from the fact that he and his party have gutted reproductive freedom,” added Reproductive Freedom for All President and CEO Mini Timmaraju.

Trump made the IVF announcement during a campaign swing to Michigan and Wisconsin, states he is intensely focused on recapturing after he won them in 2016 but narrowly lost both states in 2020.

Trump’s first stop was Alro Steel in Potterville, Michigan, near the state capital of Lansing, where he railed against the Biden administration over inflation.

“Kamala has made middle class life unaffordable and unlivable and I’m going to make America affordable again,” he charged.

Later, Trump traveled to La Crosse, Wisconsin, for a town hall moderated by former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democrat who endorsed the GOP nominee earlier this week.

Gabbard opened the town hall by talking about her own IVF journey, giving herself injections in airport bathrooms and the heartbreak of failed embryo transfers. While the treatments ultimately didn’t work for her, she applauded Trump’s proposal.

“I can’t tell you how life-changing that would be for so many families,” she said.

It was his first visit to the state since the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, which ended just days before Biden dropped out of the race and began after Trump survived an assassination attempt at a rally in Pennsylvania.

Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, which Trump will visit again Friday, are part of the so-called “blue wall” bloc of northern industrial states that Democrats carried for two decades before Trump won them in 2016.

Beaumont reported from La Crosse, Wisconsin. Colvin reported from New York. Associated Press writer Christine Fernando in Chicago contributed to this report.

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Navy secretary broke law with political statements about presidential race, watchdog says

Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro broke  the law  by publicly endorsing the reelection of President Joe Biden and criticizing former President Donald Trump in several statements he made while on official duty overseas, the  U.S. Office of Special Counsel  said Thursday.

In a report to the White House, the watchdog agency said Del Toro's comments about the presidential election came in a BBC interview and when he was responding to questions after a speech in London. While he later reported the remarks, his unwillingness to take responsibility for them is troubling, the special counsel said.

What You Need To Know

The u.s. office of special counsel says navy secretary carlos del toro broke the law by publicly endorsing the reelection of president joe biden and criticizing former president donald trump in several statements he made while on official duty overseas the watchdog agency says del toro's remarks came in a bbc interview and when he was responding to questions after a speech in london del toro said the u.s. needs biden's mature leadership and that trump's democratic principles are “suspicious” his lawyer says the remarks were spontaneous and should not be considered a violation of the hatch act, which prohibits u.s. officials from engaging in political activity while they are on duty.

The agency said Del Toro’s comments, which were made before Biden dropped out of the presidential race, violate the  Hatch Act , which prohibits U.S. officials from engaging in political activity while they are on duty and from “using their official authority or influence to interfere with or affect the result of an election.”

“The United States and the world need the mature leadership of President Biden," Del Toro said in response to a question after giving a speech at the Royal United Services Institute in late January. He added, “We cannot afford to have a president who aligns himself with autocratic dictators and rulers whose interpretation of democratic principles is suspicious (at) best.”

Later, during an interview on “BBC News Sunday,” Del Toro was asked about his comments on Trump's democratic principles. Del Toro responded that in the past, Republican and Democratic presidents abided by core American values and protected democracy.

“When you have someone who doesn’t align to those core principles, it makes you wonder, you know, should you be supporting that individual?” he said.

Del Toro was asked, “You said he had a suspicious attitude to democracy?” And the Navy secretary responded, “Absolutely so.”

Several days later, Del Toro self-reported the blunder to the special counsel, saying his intention was to focus on the importance of strong international alliances. But, he added, “In retrospect, I believe my response should have been delivered more broadly without reference to specific candidates.”

In a separate written response to the watchdog's findings, the secretary's lawyer, Michael Bromwich, said Del Toro's remarks were “spontaneous and unpremeditated” and did not constitute a violation of the Hatch Act. Bromwich said Del Toro was responding to questions and did not directly speak Trump's name.

Special counsel Hampton Dellinger said in his report that Del Toro “crossed a legal line.” And he said the secretary's "unwillingness to acknowledge a mistake is striking” and troubling.

Asked about the violation, Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said at a briefing that the department is reviewing the report. She added that “it’s important that we maintain the trust and confidence of the American people, which requires us to avoid any action that could imply the support of any political party, candidate or campaign.”

Navy Capt. Clay Doss said in a statement that the service got a copy of the report Thursday and “this matter will be addressed through the appropriate process.”

Dellinger said he appreciates that Del Toro reported the comments, “but this fact alone should not absolve him.” Del Toro has also issued his own directive for his Navy force, Dellinger said, noting that "it is more important than ever for us to remember that the DON (Department of the Navy) is an apolitical body. …. Public trust and confidence depend on this.”

The findings come after two Democratic members of Congress sent a letter to the Pentagon’s top two leaders in August, pressing them to  ensure the military is not swept up in politics  during the presidential election.

Career government officials found to have violated the Hatch Act can be fired, suspended or demoted and fined up to $1,000, though few penalties are ever levied against federal employees.

The White House did not immediately respond to requests for a comment.

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Personal Statement Workshop (UW-Madison Writing Center)

September 26 @ 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm.

Save the Date for the Writing Center’s annual Personal Statement writing workshop!

Date: Sept 26th 2024

Time: 5:30-7 pm

Alumni welcome to attend!

We will post the registration link and more details as it becomes available.

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